Sport Venues in London | Top London Venues | LondonTown.com Sport Venues in London Sports fans are spoiled for choice in London, home to the two biggest stadia in the UK as well as numerous other sporting arenas. Check out our list of the top London sporting venues and see what sporting events are coming up for your diary. Britain's largest stadium and venue for the 2011 and 2013 Champions League finals Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium, Wembley London, HA9 0WS Spectator Sport Wembley, London, HA9 0WS Enlarge Close The national stadium of the England football team, Wembley Stadium was re-opened in 2007 after a full rebuild to the tune of ï¿½757 million. The second largest stadium in Europe, Wembley took over three years to build and is located on the site of the previous 1923 Wembley Stadium, often referred to as 'The Twin Towers' or Empire Stadium, which was demolished in 2003.

The much-loved old stadium played host to some incredible games during its 70-year life, starting with the infamous 'White Horse' FA Cup Final in 1923 when over 240,000 spectators crammed their way in to watch Bolton Wanderers beat West Ham United 2-0. The famous twin towers have been replaced with the new stadium's trademark soaring 134m-high arch - the longest single span roof structure in the world - which is visible from all over London. Early teething problems with the standard of the pitch meant the turf had to be relayed 10 times in the first three years. As well as being the national home of the England football team and hosting the latter stages of various domestic club football competitions (such as the FA Cup Cup , Community Shield and Championship/League play-offs), Wembley Stadium also hosts the Rugby League Challenge Cup final and the annual NFL International Series game. In 2011, Wembley held the UEFA Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United. The Stadium also hosts the 2013 Champions League final .

Outside the sporting world, Wembley is also a large venue for top music acts, and has played host to the likes of Take That, Muse, Oasis, U2 and Coldplay. Saturday 17th June 2017 | phone for availability £35-£85 The Stone Roses Wembley Stadium 2017-06-172017-06-17 Where: Wembley Stadium, Wembley London, HA9 0WS Category: Spectator Sport Four years ago The Stone Roses played their first official London concerts since the band split in 1996. Now the Mancunian indie-rockers are back for a very special gig, at Wembley Stadium. The Manchester-based group ...

more Jeff Lynne's ELO Saturday 24th June 2017 - 7pm | £35-£110 Jeff Lynne's ELO Wembley Stadium 2017-06-242017-06-24 Where: Wembley Stadium, Wembley London, HA9 0WS Category: Spectator Sport Songs from the group's first album of new music in 15 years, Alone In The Universe; plus classic rock/pop tunes from the 1970s and 1980s.

29th Jun, 30th Jun, 1st Jul and 2nd Jul 2017 | £45-£95, Golden Circle £175, phone for availability, tickets for Jun 28, Jul 2 on sale Dec 9, 10am Adele Wembley Stadium 2017-06-292017-07-02 Where: Wembley Stadium, Wembley London, HA9 0WS Category: Spectator Sport The global superstar with an impressive 10 Grammy awards and an Oscar to her name caps off a sell-out world tour with four home town gigs at Wembley Stadium. Despite the massive size of the ...

more Atmospheric home of English rugby is London's second biggest stadium with a capacity of 82,000 Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stadium, Rugby Road, Twickenham London, TW1 1DZ Spectator Sport Rugby Road, Twickenham, London, TW1 1DZ Enlarge Close The home of English rugby at Twickenham is England's second largest stadium (after Wembley Stadium ), with steeply banked stands that create an impressive roar when an international match is in progress. While rugby remains very much a second-choice sport in the rest of southern England, the stadium has had a profound effect on the whole surrounding area: Twickenham is the only part of London where the pubs will show rugby matches in preference to football, and where you're far more likely to hear Swing Low, Sweet Chariot than any football club songs.

As well as all of England's home games - including Six Nations matches - the 82,000-capacity Twickers hosts the World Series Sevens, the Aviva Premiership final, the LV Cup and Heineken Cup matches, rugby league's Challenge Cup final, Harlequins' annual Big Game on the last Saturday of December and the majority of Barbarians international matches. Twickenham Stadium has also hosted the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi - while the venue has also been used annually for over 50 years to host, oddly enough, Jehovah's Witnesses conventions. Lord's Cricket Ground The home of English cricket with a stunning Victorian pavilion and futuristic media centre Lord's Cricket Ground Lord's Cricket Ground, Lords Cricket Ground St. Johns Wood Road London, NW8 8QN Spectator Sport Lords Cricket Ground St. Johns Wood Road, St John's Wood, London, NW8 8QN Enlarge Close This revered ancient cricket ground has been the site of many a historic victory and many more England batting collapses. While Lord's Cricket Ground has long been seen as the "home of cricket" and the game's spiritual headquarters, its importance does not lie merely in its historic past.

It hosts many important matches, including a Test match for every international tour, and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the MCC Museum. There is also an excellent guided tour, which explores the history of the ground and the game. It is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club whose teams play about 500 games a year and who take their role as guardian of the laws and spirit of cricket very seriously. Lord's Test matches are amongst the most sought-after for tickets due to the prestige of the location - an Ashes (England v Australia) Test match at Lord's is thought to be just about the biggest game in cricket. The ground has a capacity of 28,000 and is a wonderful blend of the ancient and the modern, with the resplendent Victorian-era Pavilion facing the award-winning and stylishly futuristic Media Centre. During the London 2012 Olympics, Lord's played host to the Olympic Archery competitions.

Wimbledon: The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Home of the world-famous Wimbledon championships, the only Grand Slam tournament played on grass Wimbledon: The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Wimbledon: The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Road London, SW19 5AE Spectator Sport Church Road, London, SW19 5AE Enlarge Close The only Grand Slam tournament to be played on grass, Wimbledon is the favourite of many players and a highpoint of the tennis year. Held at the resplendent All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in south-west London since 1877, Wimbledon now no longer relies on good weather too: Centre Court's new retractable roof - unveiled in 2009 as part of a ï¿½100m renovation - means play can continue despite those very English early July showers. Grass is traditionally a very fast surface and produces thrilling games when the world's best clash.

The leafy grounds of the All England Club contain 19 tournament courts, 16 other grass courts (which serve as competitors' practice courts during the championship) as well as five red shale courts, three Continental clay courts, one American clay court, and five indoor courts. Centre Court sits 15,000 spectators, No.1 Court 11,429, No.2 Court 4,000 and No.3 Court (formerly known as 'The Graveyard of Champions') 2,000. Other landmarks include the statue of Fred Perry - the last home player to win Wimbledon back in 1936 - and the grassy Aorangi terrace (known invariably as Henman Hill, Rusedski Ridge or Murray Mount) where hoards of fans gather to watch games on the outdoor big screen each year, in the hope that Britain's winless sequence will be bought to an end. There is also the award-winning Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and plenty of shops selling the tournament staples, such as glasses of Pimm's and bowls of strawberries and cream. The Olympic Tennis competition for London 2012 Summer Games were also held at the All England Club.

Home of Surrey County Cricket Club and the traditionally venue for the fifth and final Ashes Test The Kia Oval Cricket Ground The Kia Oval Cricket Ground, Harleyford Street London, SE11 5SS Spectator Sport Harleyford Street, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS Enlarge Close Though it does not have quite the same kudos as Lord's , The Kia Oval (known so because of a sponsorship deal, but usually referred to simply as The Oval) is in many ways just as pleasant to watch a day's cricket. Test matches against the West Indies and teams from the Indian subcontinent are particularly atmospheric, with south London's large Caribean and Asian populations turning out in force to support their heroes. The Oval is often the venue of the last Test match of the English summer and has played host to many famous finishes to a series, not least England's historic final day Ashes win in 2005. It is also the home of Surrey County Cricket Club and supports a busy programme of fixtures throughout the summer. Believe it or not, but The Oval was first a football ground before giving away to cricket - and the first ever FA Cup Final was played there back in 1872.

As such, The Oval is one of two sports ground (Bramall Lane in Sheffield being the other) to have staged both England Football and Cricket internationals, as well as FA Cup Finals. The 23,500-capacity stadium also holds an exhibition match for Australian Rules Football in October each year - and in 2005 drew a record Aussie Rules crowd of 18,884. Multi-sports centre that plays host to the AEGON Championships tennis tournament The Queen's Club The Queen's Club, Palliser Road, West Kensington London, W14 9EQ Palliser Road, West Kensington, Hammersmith, London, W14 9EQ Enlarge Close Established in 1886 during the reign of Queen Victoria, the Queen's Club was the first multi-purpose sports complex to be built anywhere in the world. But as rugby, football and the like moved to large purpose-built stadiums, the Queen's Club came to focus increasingly on racquet sports and in particular tennis.

Located in Baron's Court in west London, Queen's boasts 27 outdoor Lawn Tennis courts (of which 12 are arguably the finest grass courts in the world) and 10 indoor Lawn Tennis courts within its grounds, as well as a cluster of real tennis, rackets and squash courts, plus a gymnasium. The Queen's Club used to home of the Lawn Tennis Association until it relocated to Roehampton in 2007. Today the club still hosts the world-famous AEGON Championships (formerly Stella Artois Championships) in the second week of June. The AEGON Championships remains one of the six most prestigious grass competitions on the men's ATP Tour, attracting the biggest international stars of the men's game ahead of the grass-court Grand Slam event at Wimbledon two weeks later.

The state-of-the-art 60,365 capacity stadium has been Arsenal's home since 2006 Emirates Stadium: Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium: Arsenal FC, 75 Drayton Park London, N5 1BU Sports Facilities 75 Drayton Park, London, N5 1BU Enlarge Close After a century at nearby Highbury, Arsenal FC moved to the state-of-the-art Emirates Stadium in 2006. The 60,365-capacity stadium - originally called Ashburton Grove before a 15-year sponsorship agreement was signed between the club and the Emirates airline - is a suitably slick home for London's best-supported (and historically most successful) football team. Shaking off a reputation for playing dull defensive football under George Graham in the 90s, Arsenal now vie with Spanish giants Barcelona to be the most attractive club team in world football. And yet, success has been elusive since Arsene Wenger's side left Highbury: the club are yet to win any silverware following a move that many claim has put Arsenal at a financial disadvantage to their rivals.

Renowned for its flawless playing surface, the Emirates Stadium cost ï¿½470 million but has a reputation for the same tepid atmosphere that saw the Gunners' previous home labelled the 'Highbury Library'. In 2010, a clock was installed above the newly renamed Clock End of the Emirates in homage to the old, much-loved clock at Highbury in what was one of a number of measures to bring about the 'Arsenalisation' of the stadium. The Emirates has been used for music concerts - such as Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay - and it also has acted as a home-away-from-home for the Brazilian national football team's European friendly matches. The Emirates has been named as one of the stadiums that will host rugby matches during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Tickets are hard to come by for Arsenal's home games - and remain amongst the most expensive in the league, despite Arsenal's recent barren run. Arsenal's official shop - the Armoury - is located on the southern side of the stadium. The club also operate special Emirates Stadium tours - visit for details.

Enlarge Close The centrepiece of the redeveloped Millennium Dome is the O2 Arena , the first purpose-built indoor sports and live music arena in London. With a capacity of 23,000, it offers the rather soulless Wembley Arena some serious competition, with a constant stream of big name musical acts making it the most visited music arena in the world. But in recent years, The O2 has become an increasingly popular venue for sport - as emphasised during the London 2012 Olympics where the ' North Greenwich Arena ' (as it was named) hosted the basketball finals as well as artistic gymnastics and trampolining. Since 2009, the O2 Arena has hosted the ATP World Tour tennis finals - and the contract was recently prolonged until 2015. As a tennis venue, it is second only to New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium for size. A variety of other sports events take place under the dome - including darts, polo, gymnastics, martial arts, wrestling and basketball from the NBA.

Enlarge Close Running from Buckingham Palace to Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square , The Mall is a long red tarmac road which splits St James's Park on the south side from St James's Palace and Green Park on the north. Closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays, the tree-lined Mall offers one of London's most memorable views of the Queen's official residence. It is often decked out in Union Jack flags and is used in processions and marches - such as royal weddings and funerals. The annual London Marathon finishes on the western Buckingham Palace end of The Mall, while the London 2012 cycling road race events finished along the wide, tree-lined avenue, as well as the marathon events. In 2013, a new professional cycling race in and around London and the Surrey hills is set to finish on The Mall too. Enlarge Close Technically two different parks, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are in practical terms one huge, merging expanse. The 'split' dates back to 1728 when Queen Caroline, wife of George II, took almost 300 acres from Hyde Park to form Kensington Gardens . The 350 acres that remained has become one of London's best-loved parks.

Almost every kind of outdoor pursuit takes place within its lush green landscape, including horse riding, rollerblading, bowls, putting and tennis, while informal games of cricket, rounders, football, touch rugby and frisbee spring up on the area to the south of the park known as The Sports Field. During the London 2012 Olympics, Hyde Park hosted the triathlon events as well as the marathon swimming in the boating lake. Every year, numerous major sporting events take in the park - including the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon .

Friday 30th June 2017 | £79.50 & £85, Priority Entry £99.50, Gold Circle £149.50, VIP Summer Garden £299.50, The Terrace/Diamond View £399.50 Phil Collins Hyde Park 2017-06-302017-06-30 Where: Hyde Park, Rangers Lodge London, W2 2UH Category: Parks and Gardens Phil Collins is Not Dead Yet - and to prove it the Grammy award winning singer and former Genesis frontman is playing live for the first time in 10 years with five nights at the ...

more Saturday 1st July 2017 | £62.50, Priority Entry £72.50, VIP Summer Garden £139, The Terrace £199 Green Day Hyde Park 2017-07-012017-07-01 Where: Hyde Park, Rangers Lodge London, W2 2UH Category: Parks and Gardens Fresh from the longest break of its 28-year run, American punk-rock band Green Dayplays live at The O2 Arena and Hyde Park this summer. Back in the UK with new album, Revolution Radio, their first ...

more Thursday 6th July 2017 | £62.50, Priority Entry £72.50, Premium View £99.50, VIP Summer Garden £149.50, The Terrace £199.50 Kings of Leon Hyde Park 2017-07-062017-07-06 Where: Hyde Park, Rangers Lodge London, W2 2UH Category: Parks and Gardens The American four-piece, comprising of brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill alongside their cousin Matthew, Kings of Leon play a major London gig in Hyde Park on 6th July 2017. The popularity of the Tennessee ...

more Resolution Run Hyde Park Sunday 2nd April 2017 - 11am | £15 Resolution Run Hyde Park Hyde Park 2017-04-022017-04-02 Where: Hyde Park, Rangers Lodge London, W2 2UH Category: Parks and Gardens Enlarge Close The closest racecourse to London (just 40 minutes from Waterloo by train), Kempton Park has a very different atmosphere to the more rural courses with DJs and discos to keep the crowds entertained, cheap floodlit evening races to attract working punters on weekdays and no dress code beyond a vague adherence to respectability. The most famous races are held during the Christmas Festival on 26th and 27th December, including the King George VI Chase, which was won four times by Desert Orchid . There are around fifty race-days a year, many of them clustered in April and September. Kempton Park is now floodlit so you can enjoy a race as the sun goes down. Grab a pint, place a bet and cheer on your horse from the sidelines, gripping that lucky ticket tight, in case she comes home!

A day at the races is a brilliant release from the usual humdrum activities. Between March and April the fixture list is chock-a-block with over 50 races. If you've got kids, you should try one of the family days with a creche and free activities for the little ones. Enlarge Close Now primarily a venue for live music and comedy acts, Wembley Arena is also a major indoor sports venue, hosting the annual Masters Snooker tournament, boxing, mixed martial arts, ice hockey, darts, netball, basketball, five-a-side football, wrestling and even cage fighting. The Arena, which was built in 1934, originally housed a swimming pool, which was used during the 1948 Summer Olympics. In London 2012, London's second largest indoor arena was used for the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events . A versatile space, Wembley Arena has also been used for the filming of popular TV shows The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.

Friday 27th January 2017 - 7pm | £26 A Day To Remember SSE Arena, Wembley 2017-01-272017-01-27 Where: SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, Engineers Way London, HA9 0DH Category: Live Music Forming in 2003, the five-piece perform their fusions of rock, pop punk and metalcore. Strictly Come Dancing 10th Anniversary Live Tour Thursday 9th and Friday 10th February 2017 - 7.30pm | £35-£65 SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, Engineers Way London, HA9 0DH Category: Live Music Ed Balls, Ore Oduba and Lesley Joseph, along with Louise Redknapp, Daisy Lowe and Danny Mac perform their most popular dances from the show, judged by Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Karen Hardy.

11th, 12th and 13th February 2017 | £25.50-£32.50 Jack Whitehall: At Large SSE Arena, Wembley 2017-02-112017-02-13 Where: SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, Engineers Way London, HA9 0DH Category: Live Music Crowned the 'King of Comedy' at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 British Comedy Awards, comedian of the moment Jack Whitehall is now 'At Large' on his solo stand-up arena tour. Having also delved into acting ... more Basketmouth Tuesday 14th February 2017 - 7pm | phone for prices Basketmouth SSE Arena, Wembley 2017-02-142017-02-14 Where: SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, Engineers Way London, HA9 0DH Category: Live Music A comedy night that aims to unite the best in African comedy under one roof to promoting African interests on an international stage.

Sunidhi Chauhan Saturday 25th February 2017 - 7pm | phone for prices Sunidhi Chauhan SSE Arena, Wembley 2017-02-252017-02-25 Where: SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, Engineers Way London, HA9 0DH Category: Live Music The diva of Bollywood herself performs with top musicians and vocalists performing some of her hits, including Ishq Sufiyaana and Be Intehaan. Enlarge Close Situated in 200 acres of beautiful parkland in south-east London, just 10 miles from the city centre, the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre plays host to international athletics and swimming events. The Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium has a capacity of 15,500, which can be increased to 24,000 with temporary seating, and since 1999 has hosted the London Grand Prix annual athletics meet.

The sports centre attached to the stadium also offers specialist facilities to London's Olympians-in-training, as well as indoor sports including a 50m swimming pool, squash, basketball, korfball, 5-A Side and 11-A Side, volleyball, trampolining, karate, climbing, aerobics, weight training, netball, hockey, badminton and gymnastics. With the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium , the future of the Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium is up in the air. Responsibility for the Sports Centre has been transferred to the London Development Agency as part of the Olympic bid. One of the proposed plans is for Crystal Palace FC to rebuilt the stadium as a 25,000-seater football-only stadium without a running track. An earlier plan was for north London football club Tottenham Hotspur to redevelop the existing athletics stadium as part of their pledge in taking over the Olympic Stadium in Stratford - but with West Ham United winning the bid, this now looks unlikely.

Sports stadiums in South Africa Sports stadiums in South Africa Sports stadiums in South Africa 05 Apr 2002 Tweet on Twitter South Africa is the home of world-class sporting facilities capable of accommodating tens of thousands of spectators in comfort, such as the picturesque Newlands grounds, nestled at the foot of Cape Town’s mountains, and the energy-charged Wanderers Cricket Grounds in Johannesburg. There are world-renowned rugby stadiums such as Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld, home fortress of the feared “Blue Bulls” team; Johannesburg’s Ellis Park, where the 1995 World Cup final was staged, and Durban’s Absa Stadium (formerly Kings Park), home of the Sharks. Then there are some hugely impressive stadiums that were built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup: the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, known to football fans as Soccer City; Durban’s Moses Mahbida Stadium, with it’s iconic arch; and the beautiful Cape Town Stadium Stadium. Keep a watch on the newspapers while you’re here – if a big international game is being played, it could be worth your while to go and watch.

JOHANNESBURG Coca-Cola Park Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Park, formerly known as Ellis Park, was built in 1927 and it wasn’t long before it hosted its first rugby international, when South Africa faced the All Blacks in the first test in 1928, won 7-6 by the New Zealanders. The Stadium has since become world famous and it played host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand, won 15-12 by the Springboks in a tension-filled atmosphere that exploded into a celebration that engulfed the entire country. The image of former President Nelson Mandela wearing the number six jersey of Bok captain Francois Pienaar is one that will remain in the memories of many people worldwide. The original Ellis Park played host to the largest ever crowd at a rugby game in South Africa in 1955, when 100 000 spectators saw the Springboks go down 23-22 to the British Lions. The original ground, which also played host to cricket tests, was rebuilt in 1979-1980 and seven years later was listed on the stock exchange.

Today it is a top-class venue equipped with excellent facilities, and is home to the Golden Lions Rugby Union. It plays host to many big concerts, and some of the world’s top music superstars, including the Rolling Stones, have graced the ground in New Doornfontein. Whilst it is recognized primarily as a rugby ground, Ellis Park has also played host to some of the world’s greatest football teams, including Brazil, Manchester United and Arsenal. The ground seats just over 62 000 spectators. Bidvest Wanderers Cricket Stadium Bidvest Wanderers Stadium Affectionately referred to as the Bullring, The Wanderers Cricket Ground is South Africa’s largest test venue, capable of hosting 34 000 spectators. It is also home to 182 corporate suites and eight function rooms. The Wanderers became the third ground in South Africa to become a test cricket venue in December 1956, having been built only one year earlier. When Ellis Park was rebuilt in 1979-1980, The Wanderers also became a test rugby ground, playing host to the South American Pumas in a 24-9 victory for the Springboks.

There is no doubt, however – especially since South Africa’s return to world cricket in 1991, when the country started competing against the entire world and not just Australia, England and New Zealand – that the Wanderers is a wonderful, vibrant cricket ground. Since that time over R60-million has been spent on upgrading the facilities. The Unity stand at the south end of the ground was completed in November 1992 and officially opened by England great Sir Colin Cowdrey. In October 1994 the Trust Bank Memorial Stand on the northwest side of the ground was completed, followed by work on The Western Pavilion and the rebuilding of the Main Gate. More work was done in 1996 with the upgrading of the lights, and in January 1997 The Wanderers played host to its first day-night international when South Africa beat India by four wickets. At the same time a giant screen television was installed, providing replays much to the delight of the spectators – and probably much to the horror of the umpires! The Wanderers was in the spotlight again in 2003 when it hosted the final of cricket’s biggest event, the World Cup, on 18 March.

FNB Stadium (Soccer City) Take a tour of grand FNB Stadium Built in 1987, South Africa’s national soccer stadium has played host to some of the most memorable matches in South Africa’s soccer history. South Africa defeated Congo 1-0 at the ground in 1997, in front of a delirious capacity crowd, to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time. And it was at the same venue that the 1996 African Cup of Nations kicked off and then finished with South Africa beating Tunisia by two goals to nil to give the entire country a welcome boost, especially as it followed only one year after the Springboks had won the Rugby World Cup, also in Johannesburg. It was also the venue for the first mass rally to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, which drew over 100 000 people. The FNB Stadium was the main venue for the 201 Fifa World Cup, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, and the World Cup final. Its seating capacity was increased to 94 700 for football’s showcase event, including 184 suites.

Other changes made for the World Cup include an enciciling roof, new changing rooms and new floodlighting. The new-look stadium is certainly eye-catching with a distinctly African flavour. That’s because the design is based on the African pot known as a calabash. The stadium is a short distance from the famous Soweto township, well known for its fanatical football supporters, who produced a humming, festive, and vibrant during atmosphere for the World Cup. Orlando Stadium The Orlando Stadium is home to the popular Premier Soccer League club, Orlando Pirates, one of the most popular clubs in South Africa. The ground, which has hosted many of Soweto’s famous derbies, between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2009. It wasn’t used for any matches during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, but was used for training by the World Cup participants. It underwent a revamp in preparation for the event, with its capacity increasing from 24 000 to 40 000.

Apart from the world class football facilities, the ground also boats a 200-seat auditorium, a conference centre, a gymnasium, and 120 hospitality suites. Rand Stadium Johannesburg’s Rand Stadium has, like the Orlando Stadium, was revamped and served as a training ground during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™. It was originally built in 1951. Between 1951 and 1976, the stadium played host to some of South Africa’s top teams, including Highlands Park and Germiston Callies, while some of the visitors to grace the venue included Arsenal, Ajax Amsterdam, Newcastle United and Real Madrid. The facility, however, with time, began to lose its shine and it became a bit of a white elephant until South Africa was awarded the World Cup. After that, the stadium was redeveloped over three years in a multi-million rand project. Now, it sports a new grandstand roof and media facilties, new changing rooms, and a new pitch. However, the look and feel of the original venue has been retained, including a unique scoreboard in the north-eastern corner of the ground.

Its return was celebrated in May 2009 when the Rand Stadium hosted the Nedbank Cup final between Moroka Swallows and Pretoria University. PRETORIA Blue Bulls website Situated in South Africa’s capital Pretoria and home to the Blue Bulls Currie Cup rugby side, and the Bulls Super 12 rugby team, Loftus Versfeld is one of the country’s premier sporting venues. It has been in use as a rugby ground since 1908. Largely unchanged for many years, it underwent refurbishment in 1976 and was one of the primary venues for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing host to five matches. For many years. the Blue Bulls (formerly known as Northern Transvaal) have been one of the most teams in South African provincial rugby and southern hemisphere competition. Loftus has also proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Springboks; their victories there include a 61-22 pounding of Australia in 1997 and their biggest victory ever over one of the top-tier nations, a 96-13 humbling of Wales in 1998.

Premier Soccer League powerhosue Mamelodi Sundowns also play some of their bigger games at the ground. Loftus Versfeld is not only home to sporting events, however. It has successfully hosted a number of big concerts, and with a media centre, corporate suites and spacious parking areas, is one of South Africa’s top stadiums. Only minor improvements were needed for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including to the floodlights, sound system and scoreboards. Seating capacity at the stadium was increased by 5 000 – from 45 000 to 50 000. SuperSport Park Nashua Titans Official Website A relatively new venue, built in 1986 to replace Berea Park, SuperSport Park in Centurion just outside Pretoria is an appealing cricket venue (no pun intended!), with lots of grassed banks and good seating on a well-equipped main stand, set in spacious surrounds. The grassed areas are conducive to a festive atmosphere and lend themselves to groups of friends and families having a good time watching the game. Corporate chalets add to the setting.

The ground first hosted a first-class match in December 1986 when Northern Transvaal faced the might of the Transvaal “Mean Machine”, one of the most powerful provincial cricket combinations ever seen in South Africa. In November 1995 it was awarded its first test when it hosted England and South Africa. The match was unfortunately rained out, but it was memorable for the fact that cricket legend Shaun Pollock made his debut for South Africa. The next time the ground hosted a test the result was altogether better for home fans, both from the fact that the game was completed, and also that it resulted in a victory over Australia inside four days by eight wickets. High praise from Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev was accorded SuperSport Park in 1992, when he rated the facilities at the ground as being among the best in the world. It hosted five matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup and hosted the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009. CAPE TOWN Nashua Cape Cobras Cricket Acknowledged as one of the most scenic cricket grounds in the world, Newlands was officially opened in January 1888.

Four years later the ground experienced its first taste of test cricket, hosting the third test between South Africa and Australia, won by the Australians by 10 wickets. The crowd attracted was estimated at 10 000, a record turnout. The picturesque ground became famous for the Oaks and the superb background of mountains and clouds, but towards the end of the twentieth century it was agreed that the ground needed to undergo some changes. This began with the revamping of the Main Stand in 1984/85, improving seating capacity by 3 000 and providing upgraded media facilities. Newlands underwent further changes in 1986 with floodlights and chalets being added. However, when South Africa was readmitted to international cricket in 1991, it became necessary to upgrade the ground once more. The R85-million development took place over a number of years, eventually ending in January 1997. This included the demolition of the much-loved Oaks, but in its place impressive stands were erected which, while they couldn’t match the natural beauty of the Oaks, were nonetheless tastefully designed.

Today, Newlands remains one of South Africa’s most popular grounds, with enthusiastic crowds who like nothing more than a test in December or January, played in warm African sunshine in the shadow of the mountains. Over the years Newlands has proved to be something of a bogey ground for South Africa, but the Proteas, since March 1994, when they lost to Australia by 9 wickets, they have built up a string of victories at the ground, including wins over Sri Lanka, England, India, Australia, Zimbabwe and the West Indies. For any visitor, Newlands is a ground that breathes character and beauty, and it remains one of the most scenic settings for test cricket in the world today. Newlands Rugby Stadium Western Province Rugby Website Newlands was first used for an official match in May 1890 when club rugby sides Villagers and Stellenbosch met in a match that was won by the university. The following year, on 5 September 1891, the ground hosted its first rugby test when the touring British Lions beat South Africa by four points to nil. The ground has been pretty good to the Springboks, with the national team winning almost two-thirds of the matches they have played there.

Newlands has also hosted two test matches that didn’t include the Boks. That happened during the 1995 World Cup and included the semi-final between New Zealand and England when Jonah Lomu, famouslly, scored four tries. The Springboks scored a memorable 27-18 victory over defending champions Australia in the opening match of the 1995 World Cup at Newlands. The ground also saw a big 27-9 win over England in 1994, just one week after the English had thumped South Africa 32-15 in Pretoria. In 1980, the Springboks did just enough to stay ahead of the 18-point haul of Lions’ flyhalf Tony Ward, scoring four tries to the Lions’ one in a 26-22 victory. In 1955, South Africa enjoyed a big 25-9 win over the British Lions in a four-match series that was drawn. Newlands has a capacity of 51 9000 and is the home ground of the Stormers in the Super 12 and of Western Province in the Currie Cup.

The seating is close to the field and with the crowd normally sizeable and festive, the atmosphere is one of the finest of any rugby ground in the world. From time to time, the ground has also played host to Ajax Cape Town, a local Premier Soccer League team, which is an affiliate of the famous Dutch club, Ajax Amsterdam. Cape Town Stadium Cape Town Stadium – open to the public The Cape Town Stadium was built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™. It hosted eight games in the tournament, including the semi-final showdown between The Netherlands and Uruguay, with a capacity of 64 100. The stadium is a short distance from the ocean, with a backdrop of mountains, which makes for a spectacular setting. The stadium is also ideally located within a short walk of the transportation hub of the city. A multi-purpose venue, the has a noise-reducing cladding on the exterior, which makes it ideal as a host of major events and concerts. Premier Soccer League club, Ajax Cape Town, an affiliate of the famous ajax Amsterdam, plays regularly at Cape Town Stadium.

DURBAN Dolphins Cricket Website Little more than a stone’s throw from the ocean, Kingsmead is located in humid Durban, home to wonderful sandy beaches and surfing. The ground has played host to tests since January 1923 when England and South Africa played to a draw. Highlights in the history of Kingsmead include South Africa’s innings and 129-run demolition of Australia in February 1970 when two of the game’s greats, Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards, thrashed the Australian bowling to all parts of the ground as they scored 274 and 140 respectively. The total of 622 for 9 remained SA’s record total until 2003. In that year, a new high was established at Lords when South Africa declared on 682 for 6 against England. Then, in December, Kingsmead was again the venue for the highest total in the history of tests played in South Africa, with the Proteas posted 658 for 9 declared against the West Indies.

Gary Kirsten wrote his name into the record books at Kingsmead in December 1999 against England when he bettered Graeme Pollock’s 274 and equalled Darryl Cullinan’s South African record test score of 275. That score has since been bettered by Graeme Smith (277 vs England, June 2003) and AB de Villiers (278* vs Pakistan, November 2010) The ground was also the host of the longest cricket test in history, the fifth test between South Africa and England, from 3 to 14 March 1939. Play took place on 10 days, but the contest ultimately ended in a draw by agreement of the captains when the English team, ironically, ran out of time and had to catch their ship back home. Kingsmead’s warm weather encourages a casual and relaxed atmosphere as spectators soak up the sun’s rays while taking in top-class action out on the pitch. And if the humidity proves too much, it is easy to pop down to the beach for a quick dip in the ocean and then return for more cricket.

Mr Price King’s Park Jacko Jackson Road, Durban Sharks Rugby Durban’s Kings Park Stadium, after a quiet history as a test venue, enjoyed a rebirth in 1990 when the ground underwent a massive upgrade and the hometown Natal Sharks won the prestigious Currie Cup for the first time. Between 1891 and 1992 the ground hosted just 12 rugby tests between, beginning in 1962 when South Africa defeated the British Lions 3-0. Since 1992, the ground has played hosted to way more than 12 tests! It has also been a favoured venue for matches featuring the South African national football side, Bafana Bafana. In fact, it played host to the team’s first international match, a friendly against Cameroon in July 1992, which was won 1-0 by South Africa. In 2003 it hosted the friendly between England and South Africa that launched the Rainbow Nation’s bid to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Bafana Bafana lost 2-1, but the bid was successful!

In a rich history of many wonderful matches at Kings Park, three two stand out above all others. The first was mentioned above: the democratic South Africa’s introduction to international football against Cameroon in 1992. The other contests involved rugby tests. The first took place in 1995 when South Africa faced France in atrocious conditions in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. The game was a cliff-hanger, and only splendid and stubborn Springbok defence earned the home team a nail-biting 19-15 victory. The second memorable rugby match took place in 1998 when Natal Sharks’ favourite Gary Teichmann led the Boks to the Tri-Nations title with an unbelievable 24-23 win over the All Blacks. South Africa trailed 23-5 with 12 minutes remaining, but they lifted themselves and an ecstatic crowd as they crossed New Zealand’s try line three times to claim a famous victory. The Moses Mabhida Stadium Moses Mabhida Stadium Durban received an impressive new football stadium for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The Moses Mabhida Stadium with its impressive arch became an eye-catching addition to the city’s fine list of sporting facilities.

Situated within walking distance of the Absa Stadium, home to the Sharks and a popular rugby test venue, the Moses Mabhida Stadium had a capacity of 62 760 during the World Cup, but that was reduced to 54 000 afterwards. The stadium has the capacity, however, to accommodate 80 000, if needed. There are 150 corporate hospitality suites with 7 500 seats. The 106-metre high grand arch is not just a design feature. A cable car takes visitors up to its highest point, where they can get out and enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views of the city and ocean. The roof is made of Teflon®-coated glass fibre membranes, which produce a translucent glow when the stadium is lit. Seven Fifa World Cup matches were played at the stadium: five first round games, a second round fixture, and a semi-final. Since the World Cup, the ground has also hosted a T20 international between South Africa and India and many concerts. With its spectacular arch and big capacity, it dominates the city’s seaside sporting skykline, including the nearby Absa Stadium.

PORT ELIZABETH Sahara Oval Saint George’s Park Drive, Port Elizabeth St George’s Park The Crusaders Ground in Port Elizabeth, commonly referred to as Saint George’s Park, first played host to international cricket in March 1889 when England defeated South Africa by eight wickets in South Africa’s first ever test match. Saint George’s Park became home to Eastern Province cricket, and some of South Africa’s finest players graced the ground for EP and South Africa, including Bert Vogler, Peter and Graeme Pollock, and Dave Richardson. As with many other grounds, Saint George’s underwent an upgrade after South Africa returned to international cricket, and today it is a popular venue for both test matches and one-day internationals. Situated within sight of the ocean, the ground has become well known for the enthusiastic band that plays during test matches. It is a particular favourite of spectators during the summer months, when tests take place in beautiful sunny settings, often accompanied by a cooling breeze, making Saint George’s Park an ideal venue both for fans of the game and for the players themselves. South Africa has experienced both wonderful success and agonising defeat at the ground.

Two matches of more recent vintage that stand out are a painful loss to Australia by two wickets in March 1997 after the Proteas had the Aussies on the rack, having led by 101 runs on the first innings; and a superb win by 9 wickets over India in 1992 as fast bowler Allan Donald claimed 12 for 139 on a pitch that many had said favoured spin bowling and was a fast bowler’s nightmare. Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Port Elizabeth, known as “The Friendly City”, received a long overdue new stadium ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™. It now accommodates almost 48 500 spectators. The stadium, with a striking roof that highlights its design, played host to the playoff for third place during the World Cup, as well as a quarter-final, a second round match, and five first round games. It has since become home to the Port Elizabeth Sevens, one of the stops on the HSBC World Sevens Series circuit. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is set on the shores of the North End Lake and is the first football-dedicated stadium in the city.

It is located north of the city, near the industrial port development of Coega, just two kilometres from the ocean. Thanks to its proximity to the N2 Highway, access to the ground from the city is easy and fast. BLOEMFONTEIN Toyota Free State Cheetahs The upgraded Free State Stadium was completed before the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup and it played a big role in the event, hosting the eventual winners, Brazil. Bloemfontein’s football supporters are well known for their enthusiastic support and true to form they provided each match with a party atmosphere. Five first round contests, as well as a second round match were played at the ground in in the Fifa World Cup. Formerly a 38 000-seater, the ground now hosts almost 41 000 people. Top football and rugby matches are played there. It is home to Bloemfontein Celtic of the Premier Soccer League and the Cheetahs Super 14 and Currie Cup rugby teams. Free State Stadium is part of what is possibly the finest collection of sports facilities in South Africa.

Situated on the same huge block as it are an international standard athletics stadium, the OUTsurance Oval cricket ground – also used for international matches – and tennis facilities that have played host to South African satellite events. Just across the way is a top class class swimming stadium. The stadium first saw international action in 1955 when the touring British Lions faced the Junior Springboks and edged to a 15-12 victory. It included cycling and athletics tracks around the playing field for many years, but all that changed in 1994 when it was reconstructed ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The result was a beautiful stadium vastly improved on the former design. Spectators were no longer distanced from the action, with seating bordering the field creating a sense of intimacy. The All Blacks, based in Bloemfontein for their World Cup pool matches, certainly enjoyed the new stadium, thrashing a hapless Japanese team 145-17. The ground has hosted a good number of football internationals played by Bafana Bafana.

It was also used during the 1996 African Cup of Nations for a group that included Zambia, Algeria, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. OUTsurance Oval Free State Cricket Union Website Formerly known as Springbok Park, then Goodyear Park for many years, the ground is now known as the OUTsurance Oval and is a well-designed 20 000-seater. It incorporates two large stands and lots of grassed banks that attract large groups who wish to cook in the sun while enjoying their cricket. The ground hosted its first one-day international in December 1992 when South Africa cruised to an eight-wicket victory over India. In October 2000 it was accorded full test status when the Proteas defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 13 runs at the ground. Goodyear Park played its part in South African test history when, fittingly, it became the ground on which Free State fast bowler Allan Donald became the first South African to capture 300 test wickets, during the first test against New Zealand in November 2000.

One of the greatest innings ever played at the ground occurred early in 1994 when former South African captain Hansie Cronje, playing for Free State, smashed 251 against the touring Australians, hitting 28 fours and six sixes, including three in succession to hurry him along from 200 to 250. The OUTsurance Oval boasts some of the best lights for night cricket in the country and it is regularly used for day/night internationals, when the grassy banks become colourfully filled with spectators and a carnival atmosphere prevails. It is relaxed and friendly. POLOKWANE Peter Mokaba Stadium The Peter Mokaba Stadium is named after an anti-apartheid activist. It is located in Polokwane, the birthplace of Mokaba, in the Limpopo Province and seats almost 42 000 people. It is a mere five kilometres from the city centre. The design of the stadium is inspired by the iconic Baobab tree. Each corner of the stadium features giant ‘trunk’ structures which accommodate vertical circulation ramps and service cores. The venue hosted four first round matches during the Fifa World Cup.

It has since been used by a number of Premier Soccer League clubs as an alternate venue, including SuperSport United, Kaizer Chiefs, and Black Leopards. RUSTENBURG Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace was opened in 1999. Not much work was needed to prepare it to host Fifa World Cup™ matches in 2010. Five matches took place at the ground: four in the first round and one in the second round. It is to be found in Rustenburg and is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. The Royal Bafokeng people are a rich community, whose wealth is founded on the royalties paid to it by mining companies for access to platinum, ferrochrome, rhodium, and palladium. The stadium, located 12 kilometres from the Rustenburg city centre, seats 42 000 and is home to Platinum Stars, a Premier Soccer League club in which Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings owns a majority share. It is also a 25-minute drive from Sun City and a half-hour drive from the beautiful Pilansberg Mountains.

NELSPRUIT Mbombela Stadium The Mbombela Stadium, in Nelspruit, seats close to 42 000 people and was especially built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, during which is hosted five first round matches. It is named after the municipality in which the stadium is found and the name, which comes from one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, Siswati, means “many people together in a small space.” The stadium is only seven kilometres from the city centre and 12 kilometres from the Kruger-Mpumalanga Airport. It is located in a part of South Africa renowned for its game reserves and wildlife. The stadium design has wildlife features, with the 18 roof supports resembling giraffes and the seating patterned in zebra stripes. The stadium was the first top class football venue built in the province of Mpumalanga. Premier Soccer League club Bidvest Wits uses it for some of the team’s home matches. Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material TAGS

Question: Smith's Lawn is a famed venue in which sport?
Answer: Polo